In the high-stakes world of college football, Texas came within inches of reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship, only to be thwarted by a few crucial decisions. At the heart of this narrative is their coach, Steve Sarkisian, an offensive maestro with a knack for creative play-calling that sometimes goes awry.
As Texas faced Ohio State in the semifinals, they found themselves trailing 21-14 in the fourth quarter. With the clock ticking down and the ball positioned tantalizingly at Ohio State’s 1-yard line, the Longhorns were a mere three feet from a game-tying touchdown. In moments like these, football wisdom suggests a straight-ahead approach—power through the tackle box and punch it into the end zone.
Sarkisian initially adhered to this strategy, directing a run with Jerrick Gibson, but Ohio State’s defensive front held firm. Then came a more unconventional call: a pitch to Tre Wisner meant to outpace the Buckeyes’ agile defense. This time, Ohio State’s defensive standouts, Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom, broke through, resulting in an eight-yard loss.
A once-promising drive suddenly veered into panic mode. Third down brought an incomplete Quinn Ewers’ pass, and on fourth-and-goal, Jack Sawyer’s strip-sack turned the tide definitively in Ohio State’s favor, as he recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown. The narrative was set: Texas’ hopes dashed in a sequence that epitomized frustration.
This wasn’t an isolated incident in the season for Sarkisian. His penchant for intricate decision-making was evident, such as rotating quarterbacks at unexpected times or favoring the pass in scenarios where the run was dominating, like against Clemson. In many games, Texas’ raw talent helped cover these miscues, but against powerhouses like Ohio State, there was no margin for error.
Sarkisian’s brilliance in crafting potent offensive plays is undeniable, yet his tendency to complicate situations might be the very thing that hinders him from ascending to the zenith of college football coaching. It’s a classic case of a strategic mind whose love for the complex sometimes overshadows the simple, effective solutions.
